Portable pie container



July 9, 1957 P. MARSHALL 2,798,784

PORTABLE PIE CONTAINER Filed May 26, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

By 1 04 ll! Mars/2a United States Patent PORTABLE PIE CONTAINER Paul W. Marshall, Tulsa, Okla.

Application May 26, 1954, Serial No. 432,439

1 Claim. (Cl. 312-199) The present invention relates to a portable pie container and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a portable pie container utilized as a delivery case as well as a display case.

The normal metal or wood pie box available today weighs aproximately twenty-five to thirty pounds when empty, and the additional weight of the pies carried therein increases the weight of a full container to about fifty pounds. It is obvious that such a weight is a decided handicap to a delivery man who must carry the full pie box from a delivery wagon to a restaurant or the like. The present invention contemplates a light weight pie container of durable construction designed to be used as a pie box for delivery purposes as well as a display box for the pics. The design of the novel pie container will reduce the load of a delivery man by approximately fifty percent, thereby facilitating a more efiicient delivery service to consumers.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a light weight portable pie container.

It is another object of this invention to provide a portable pie container for use as a delivery and display box for pies.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a pie container that is easy to use and simple and economical in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical elevational view of a pie container embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a pie container embodying the invention in a closed position. v

Figure 3 is a plan view of a pie container embodying the invention shown in open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pie container embodying the invention in an open position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character represents a pie container of substantially circular configuration, preferably made of light weight material such as transparent plastic, fiberglas, or the like having the rigidity to warrant application as a portable container as well as an open display case to be used on restaurant counters or the like. The container 10 consists of two sections 11 and 13, each having outwardly extending vertical flanges 12 and 14 projecting sufliciently above the container 10 to be provided with slotted apertures 16 and 18, respectively, in alignment when the container 10 is in a closed position thereby providing a convenient handle for carrying the container. The outwardly extending flanges 12 and 14 terminate at the bottom 20 of the container 10 in diametrically extending portions 22 and 24 which are sufficiently re-enforced to substantially brace the entire container 10 when it is standing in an open position (Fig. 4). The sections 11 and 13 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced circumferential grooves 26 and 28, respectively, projecting inwardly to form ledges 30 (Fig. 4) around the inner periphery of the container 10. As the sections are brought together the ledges 30 form a substantially circular ledge for receiving the outer periphery of a pie pan or the like. Any suitable locking or latching device 32 is provided at the front edge (Fig. 4) of the flanged portions 12 and 14 for securing the two sections 11 and 13 together when the container 10 is in a closed position. A hinge 34 of any suitable type is provided along the vertical length of the rear edge (Figs. 2 and 3) of the flanges 12 and 14 to allow the two sections 11 and 13 to pivot thereabout as they are moved from an open to a closed position.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the section 11 is more than one-half the circumference of the container 10. Therefore, the pie pans (not shown) placed on the ledge 30 will remain in a level position when the container 10 is opened for removal or insertion of the pie pans.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides a simple, efiicient container for use in delivering pies to a consumer, as well as a case to be utilized as a display box to be placed on a restaurant counter or the like. In a closed position the container 10 securely holds the pie pans contained therein and yet in an open position, it permits ready accessibility for the removal or insertion of pie pans.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

In a portable pie kit comprising a cylindrical case formed of a pair of arcuately shaped casing members hingedly connected at one side thereof, one of said arcuately shaped members substantially greater than one half the case, an outwardly extending flange provided on the edge of each of said sectional members, said flange extending above one end thereof, a recessed portion in said end flanges providing a handle for carrying the case when said sectional members are in closed position, a plurality of vertically spaced inwardly directed grooves provided in each of said sections and in alignment therebetween, said grooves providing inwardly directed shoulders for receiving and supporting pie trays thereon, said sectional member of larger size adapted to support a pie tray in either open or closed position, and means for locking the sections in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 469,987 Whiting Mar. 1, 1892 1,003,736 Haden Sept. 19, 1911 1,319,342 Johnston Oct. 21, 1919 1,531,488 McNamara Mar. 31, 1925 1,953,885 McAleer Apr. 3, 1934 2,438,257 Stevenson Mar. 23, 1948 

